Flat-Panel PHotoN Counting SPECTRAL Mammography

Based on

INDUCTIVE RADIATION Detection Technology

GEKA ASSOCIATES is seeking a collaboration with an R&D entity in development of a new inductive radiation detectors and flat panel photon-counting radiography for industrial, medical, security, and space applications

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For more information contact: info@gekallc.com

GEKA development is a continuation of the past development and productization efforts that were focused on phenomena and systems involving the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with semiconductors. GEKA development started in 1985 with invention of selenium-based digital mammography (US patents 4,544,887 and 4,663,526) at GEKA founded Optical Diagnostic Systems, Inc. The 1985 demo system offered superior spatial resolution exceeded spatial resolution of other systems under development. However ODS Inc. system still relied solely on the degree of X-ray absorption, changes in the total optical (X-ray) density of tissue limiting capability of detecting changes in the tissue composition. The photon counting spectral mammography based on inductive detection of X-ray radiation offers selection of the optimal photon energies increasing sensitivity to changes in the composition of breast tissue affecting absorption spectra of X-ray radiation and increasing sensitivity even to minor changes in tissue composition. The changes in "optical" density of tissue maybe also increased by use of standard contrast substances.

Technology
Inductive Detection of X-Ray Radiation

Inductive radiation sensing technology based on a low-cost non-crystalline material offers a substantial increase of energy resolution and sensitivity as compared to conventional, photo-conductive detectors based on the crystalline materials. A preliminary evaluation performed using a high defect density segment of a CZT wafer indicated that sensitivity of the inductive radiation sensors based on the non-crystalline materials will increase by at least one order of magnitude as compared to sensors based the crystalline materials. It is projected that additionally to higher energy resolution, higher sensitivity and decreased cost of imaging detectors, use of non-crystalline materials would also offer greater flexibility in the construction of x-ray and gamma-ray imaging detectors, an improvement of their spatial resolution and detector size. Energy Resolution in commonly used photo-conductive radiation detectors (pcRD) the radiation produced charge carriers are collected at the electrodes at preset time intervals. Therefore, delays in the charge collection time due to carrier mobility and charge trapping at crystal defects affect height of the peaks and reduce energy resolution of detectors. Unlike pcRD detectors, detectors based on the inductive radiation (iRD) technology are sensing X-rays produced charges at the location where they are created in the sensor bulk with signal propagating at the speed of light and therefore not limited by the carrier mobility and charge trapping.
Patents: US 10,018,738 B2, US 10,338,237 B2



Flat-Panel PHotoN Counting SPECTRAL Mammography

WHY MAMMOGRAPHY

  • 1 out of 8 women develop breast cancer in their lifetimes

  • Existing mammogram technologies do not allow to detect breast cancer in its early stage of development (in women under the age of 50) to allow effective treatment of cancer

  • Standard mammography has been estimated to miss about 50% of cancers present in women with dense breasts

  • The increasing incidence of breast cancer will create high demand for early detection techniques

  • Drivers for Inductive X-Ray Detection Mammography

    • Early detection of the cancer

    • Reduced X-ray dose

    • Lower cost of cancer screening

High Spatial Resolution SELENIUM-BASED DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY - 1985